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Covenant (disambiguation)

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Covenant (Empire)
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Government overview

Type:

Theocratic Hierarchy

Executive branch:

High Council

Legislative branch:

High Council

Judicial branch:

High Council

Anthem:

Unknown

Societal overview

Official language(s):

Covenant Language (Various languages are spoken by different races)

Historical overview

Formation:

Started at the end of the Sangheili-San'Shyuum War

Reorganization:

2552 (Great Schism)

Fragmentation:

2552: Covenant Civil War

Dissolution:

2553

 
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The Covenant is a religiously zealous collection of alien races, controlling a large portion of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. They waged a genocidal campaign of extermination against humanity until they were defeated due to many complications, one of which were internal conflicts. The Covenant was presumably disbanded after its defeat by the UNSC and Covenant Separatist forces. The Covenant Separatists were cast out by the Brutes and other Covenant Loyalists.

Background

The Covenant was dominated by two centric alien species, the Elites and the Prophets, the Prophets being the leaders. The name "Covenant" was taken from the binding pact that forged the peace between the Elites and the Prophets. Their war, which had devastated their respective races for years, was fought over the few remaining Forerunner artifacts on their home worlds, with the Elites wishing to preserve them, and the Prophets wishing to use the artifacts to explore the galaxy. The Elites held a distinct strategic upper hand, as their fighter society was ready for a war, but the Prophets had one massive advantage; an immensely powerful Forerunner construct known as the Dreadnought. After the Prophets decided to use the Forerunner Dreadnought against the Elites, the Prophets destroyed the Sangheili forces, while the wise and prudent Elite Commanders, realizing their peril, laid their arms aside and likewise cast their hatred away from the war. When the Prophets found evidence of the Forerunners and their "Great Journey", hoping to create a peace between them, told the Elites of their discovery and promised to find the means of the Forerunners' transcendence. The Prophets would share this knowledge with the Elites who in turn would protect the Prophets as they searched for transcendent Forerunner, artifacts to activate all the Halo Installations. These ideas would be put into the Covenant's founding document the Writ of Union.

At first, the Covenant were mostly a loose non-aggression pact of two races held together by a common need to avoid mutually assured destruction[1]; but, as their society advanced, so did their technology, culture, and religion. By the time of the Halo games, the Covenant control a large part of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Their society had evolved into a complicated caste system, with the Prophets governing the Covenant, and the Elites left in charge of the military. The Covenant was a theocracy, based on prophecies about the Sacred rings and The Great Journey. The primary belief of the Covenant was that the Halos will allow them passage into the "Divine Beyond", where they might join the Forerunners as gods, the unholy would be left behind to die by the power of the Halo rings.

Society

The Government

Elite High Councilors.

The Covenant is governed by the High Council, which is led by the trio of the Hierarchs and consists of lesser Prophets, Legates and very high ranking Elites. However, near the start of the Covenant Civil War, the Prophets began to replace the Elites with Brutes in various positions in Covenant society, including the protection of the Hierarchs and command of the Covenant Fleets. The Prophets of Truth and Mercy used Regret's assassination at the hands of The Demon (Master Chief) as an excuse to change the Covenant around. Truth and Mercy decided that the Elites were unable to protect the Prophets and replaced them with the Brutes. The Prophets then secretly ordered the Brutes to instigate a genocide, or mass murder, of the Elites leading to the beginning of the Civil War.

In addition to the High Council there are three other Councils: the Council of Concordance, the Council of Doctrine and Deed and the Council of Masters.

Numerous Ministries exist within the Covenant government as well, each of which possess a single role. The Ministry of Tranquility is charged with hiring Jackals as mercenaries, while the Ministry of Concert represents the lower caste races such as Jackals and Grunts.

Known Governmental Branches of the Covenant
High Council | Ministry of Tranquility | Ministry of Concert | Council of Concordance | Council of Doctrine and Deed | Council of Masters

Species

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Covenant society is based around a caste system of the species below. Many of the alien species conquered by the Covenant are conscripted into, or gradually become part of the alliance.[2] However, during first contact with the humans, The Oracle on board the Forerunner Dreadnought revealed that humans are "my makers", as shown by its luminary. Since the entire Covenant was based on the promise of the Great Journey upon activation of the rings, the Prophets decided to purposefully attempt a genocide of Humanity.[3]

File:1207642645 Prophet.jpg
A Prophet


Prophets

As the highest caste, it is the Prophets who lead the Covenant and exert complete control over religious and political affairs. Physically weak, Prophets wield power through absolute command of the Covenant and through scavenged Forerunner technology, leaving the task of conquest to the Elites and the other races. Their higher understanding of the Forerunners gives them great egos and religious powers over the Covenant. The fact that the Covenant are religious zealots makes it all the more easy to control them.[1] They are addressed as 'Hierarchs' or 'Holy Ones' by the other races of the Covenant. Prophets enforce a misguided theology based on the belief that firing Halo array will herald some kind of sublimation event called the Great Journey. They are called San 'Shyuum in the Covenant language. Three high prophets are Regret, Mercy and, Truth.

File:Brutewithshot.jpg
A Brute

Brutes

Brutes are some of the newest species to the Covenant and is the only race that has obtained equal status to that of one of the founding "clients" of the Covenant pact, the Elites. Their strength can match and even surpass that of Elites. They have an incredible natural resilience to damage that makes up for their lack of Energy Shields (be it noted that they later (in Halo 3) get power armor), and use a number of weapons and vehicles based upon their pre-Covenant technology. Brutes have their own ranks going up to Brute Chieftains who usually wield Plasma Cannons, Fuel Rod Cannons, or Gravity Hammers. The Brutes always work in packs of 3-8 when possible. Brutes are unlike Elites in that they do not have an aversion to using human weapons, as shown in the books and Halo 2. After the Elites were replaced for failing to protect the High Prophet of Regret from the 'Demon', they took over their role as personal bodyguards of the Prophets and also now make up most of the Covenant army. They have a hairy, ape-like appearance with rough, rhino-like skin and have a helmet-like head. They are called Jiralhanae in the Covenant language. Before the Brutes joined the Covenant, the Brutes often gained space travel, started fighting each other, went back to pre-space travel and gained space travel again, and learned nothing from it.

File:1207643122 Elite3.jpg
An Ultra Elite

Elites

Elites served as the military leaders for the Covenant. While Prophets often had the last say, it was the Elites who organized military campaigns and naval engagements. Ship Masters commanded ships, Fleet Masters commanded mighty Fleets, and Field Masters commanded the vast armies. Elites maintained the military structure of the Covenant and ensured the Prophets' orders, as well as their own, were carried out. They also had a diverse rank structure. Elites were a major component of the Covenant and were the only caste able to maintain the military hierarchy as well as having a voice within the High Council. As the Prophets and Brutes attempted genocide of the Elites, they left the Covenant, sparking a civil war within the Covenant and allied themselves with the UNSC. They are called Sangheili in the Covenant language.

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A Hunter

Hunters

Hunters are an assemblage of worm-like entities called Lekgolo that create a communal, armor-plated form. They work hard in their role as Covenant muscle, and never disobey orders. Hunters are dismissive and contemptuous of their foes, and in fact, they will only associate with Elites, recognizing and respecting the similar warrior thoughts. Hunters always fight in pairs and are deployed almost like heavy equipment of the Covenant fighting units. The bonded pairs, more commonly known as bond brothers (i. e. two Hunters) are actually a colony of worms (called Lekgolo worms) that has grown too large for a single piece of armor. In Halo: Contact Harvest single Hunters guard the Dreadnought. Due to their 12 foot height, extremely strong armor and strength, and their arm mounted Assault Cannon, other Covenant will often clear the area of deployment, since Hunters are unconcerned with collateral damage, they may even purposely kill the lesser castes,(aside from Elites) simply for "getting in the way." They are called Mgalekgolo in the Covenant Language. The Hunters were forced to join the Covenant out of fear that their planet would be glassed. Hunters were unstoppable on the ground but the Elites and Prophets had the advantage in space, leading to the successful Taming of the Hunters. Later in the Covenant-civil war, the Hunters joined with the Elites.

A Drone

Drones

These flying, insectile warriors called Drones serve almost exclusively as professional soldiers rather than conforming to Covenant societal norms. Their ability to fight on the wing makes them an excellent strategic weapon against ground-based opponents. Unlike most other Covenant race, the Drones do not require an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere or a methane environment, as Grunts do, to survive. They are called Yanme'e in the Covenant language.

A Jackal

Jackals

Due to their superior senses, Jackals are the scouts and marksmen of the Covenant military. They are about 5'8" tall and due to their lack of physical durability, they carry a portable energy shield generator during combat. The types of weapons they carry are Plasma Pistols, Covenant Carbines, a single Beam Rifle, and occasionally Needlers. Their appearance is bird-like, earning them the nickname "Tree Turkeys". Jackals are employed mainly as sharpshooters with their excellent vision and dexterity. The first Human Contact was between Staff Sergeants Johnson and Brynes on a human Freighter as Jackal pirates tried to board the ship. Jackals have never been seen throwing grenades. They are called Kig-yar in Covenant language.

Grunts

Grunts are the workhorses of the Covenant, as the name implies. Despite their obvious cowardice and ineptitude, they are dangerous in large numbers, which may have been why an Arbiter was needed to quell the Grunt Rebellion. They breathe a methane mixture and thus must wear a large tank on their backs full of the methane to live. In, Halo 3 if you knock off their backs the methane will come out. However, they can briefly survive after it is shot off. They fight well in Plasma Turrets and use the Plasma Pistol and Needler, sometimes wielding the Fuel Rod Cannon as well. If their leader is killed, Grunts will run away or they may go Kamikaze by activating two Plasma Grenades (one on each hand) while charging at you. On the other hand, Heretic Grunts will fearlessly charge the enemy when their leader is dead. Their discipline is dependent upon strong leadership and strength of numbers; however leaderless, they will significantly present less resistance, often cowering. Unggoy have a considerable amount of physical strength, enabling them to wield large weapons in the Covenant arsenal. They had learned many human languages from intercepting transmissions between human vessels. One theory about the Unggoy's ability to learn languages rather quickly is that there isn't much else to focus on when the are stuck intercepting transmissions for the Covenant. They are called Unggoy in the Covenant language. They also joined the Hunters and Elites after the Covenant-Civil war.

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An Engineer

Engineers

Engineers don't really fit in with the Covenant caste system. In military terms, they are the lowest as they are a non-militant race. They are needed to maintain the Covenant war machines and will only converse with the Prophets (also Grunts who learn their language). This, however, indicates Engineers are very high in the caste system, probably because The Covenant are aware of how much they are needed and that the Engineer's grasp on Covenant and foreign technology, is profound. Engineers are actually an artificial species created by the Forerunners, which could contribute to their high status. They are called Huragok in the Forerunner and Covenant language. These were removed from the final version of Halo: Combat Evolved, but are in some of the novels.

Deleted Races

  • Drinols are bosses that did not make it into the Halo games and it is unknown if they will be featured in future products. They are thought to have been remade into the Flood Juggernaut boss flood type, which itself is a deleted race.
  • Stalkers are a Covenant race that did not make it into Halo 2, seen in the Halo 2 Collector's Edition disc. They were taken from original idea sketches of the Elites in the first Halo game and were supposed to be very wiry and skeletal, with massive amounts of teeth, similar to sharks.
  • Keelbugs are a deleted Covenant race seen in the Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc. They were a cross between Drones and Brutes, more like Drones but without the insect-like look to them. They were supposed to fly into the battlefield, cut dead bodies into sections, and fly off with them.
  • Alien Troopers are a deleted Covenant race seen in the Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc. It is understood to be a deleted form of soldier that would complement the Elites. The only known data is that it was supposed to carry its weapon under its belly.
  • Special Purpose Snipers are a deleted Covenant race seen in the Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc. Their arms were used like a tripod, so they could flip from side to side, without having to switch weapons. They would also be able to hang from trees.
  • Sharquoi were mentioned in the Halo 2 Collectors Edition booklet, detailing conversations among human and Covenant individuals. Nothing that can be called definitely, a Sharquoi has ever appeared.

Creatures Inhabiting Covenant Worlds

  • Scrub Grubs are small creatures the equivalent of the rats found on Humanity's homeworld, Earth. They were first mentioned in Halo: Contact Harvest, while inhabiting a Jackal ship.
  • Zap-Jellies are sea creatures that live on the Grunt home world, Balaho. Possibly the equivalent of large jellyfish on Earth.
  • Thorn Beasts are a food source for the Covenant. The only reference to the Thorn Beasts is in Halo: Contact Harvest, when the Brutes are first mentioned.
  • Mud Wasps are insects found on the Grunt home world, Balaho.
  • Shade Crabs are crustaceans found on the Grunt home world, Balaho.
  • Lekgolos are worm-like creatures found on the Hunter home world, Te. They are what make up the Mgalekgolo.

Religion and Culture

File:CFsymbols.jpg
Forerunner symbols.

The Covenant society and culture is based solely on worshiping the Forerunners and recovering their sacred artifacts. Because of this, they often have to turn to war to achieve their ends, and so the Elites, and later the Brutes, have a very high place in their culture. In Covenant society, personal vendettas are not tolerated.[4]

Because of the Prophets' links to the Forerunners, they possess superior technology, and this, combined with the unique abilities of the client races, help to push the ever-growing war machine of the Covenant. The client races are nearly enslaved by the Covenant, forced to live a completely different way of life. Their past cultures are all but erased, and the only practical way for them to relive their former cultures is through dreams. Most races are only kept for their varying skills to be exploited, rather than to be a part of a flourishing empire. Hunters, for example, are indomitable ground forces, and so they were conquered by way of orbital bombardment to help the Covenant in close-range combat, rather than from star ships.

The Forerunners, a long-since vanished and utterly mysterious civilization, are revered as Gods by the Covenant, although their original nature was most likely not divine. The Covenant belief system is underpinned by the existence of numerous abandoned Forerunner artifacts, objects and installations. Of these, the most notable are the seven Halo rings, said to be the locations at which the transcendent Great Journey may be begun. The evident technological perfection of Forerunner objects, and the awesome and unknown purpose for which these artifacts exist, has powered the Covenant theology for millennia.[1]

It appears that the Covenant's faith is solely qualified by finding the Forerunners' abandoned technology scattered throughout the galaxy. However, much of this Forerunner technology is as obtuse as it is arcane. It can only be guessed at what its true purpose and origin might be. That said, they have been able to incorporate some Forerunner advancements into their weapon and transport technology.[1] The Covenant, then, are mainly driven by their fanatical devotion to religion. The client races are held together by a common belief; the slave races are driven by the religion which they have been forced to accept.

The History Of The Covenant

Main article: History of the Covenant
Covenant history

The Covenant divided their history into eons called Ages. There are at least eight ages, although their exact order is uncertain. The Ages are named according to things that have happened or are happening in them. This also means that the lengths of the Ages vary, with some longer than other. Halo 1 and Halo 2 take place during the 9th Age of Reclamation, which began during the events in Contact Harvest.

"The First Age: Ignorance and Fear.
The Second Age: Rivalry and Bloodshed.
The Third Age: Humility and Brotherhood.
The Fourth Age: Wonder and Understanding.
The Fifth Age: Obedience and freedom.
The Sixth Age: Faith and Patience.
The Seventh Age: Journey and Salvation.''"
— Maccabeus and the Jiralhanae of the Rapid Conversion. [5]

Technology

Main article: Technology

The Covenant, as is repeatedly stated, are more imitative rather than innovative, unlike their human enemies. Some may say that their technology is far more advanced than that of the humans.[6] Their technology is based largely on mimicry of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered; their weaponry is mostly plasma based and most of their vehicles are capable of hovering. Most of the Covenant's hand-held weapons (except the fuel rod cannon, needler, carbine, brute shot and later the mauler, and spiker) use magnetic coils to direct the usually unstable plasma energy.

While Covenant technology is (on the whole) far more advanced than humanity's, the Covenant seem to be ignorant of how precise or powerful their technology can be. Covenant engines, for example, are more precise and faster than a Human engine, but the Covenant use their engines slower and less precisely than they can be used. Cortana used this to her advantage on the captured Covenant Flagship Ascendant Justice by reconfiguring the electromagnetic shaping coils to shape the plasma into a thin, sustained beam that, while very effective, consumes plasma at an astonishing rate. The Plasma Torpedo is another example, Cortana finds a way to make a much more powerful torpedo, breaching a larger Covenant ship's shields and hull in one shot. These were seen in the book Halo: First Strike. As found in Halo: Contact Harvest it seems that the Covenant have a reasonable understanding of herbs.

Only 2 Covenant AI have ever been found. One was a rampant AI that was destroyed by Cortana, the other was The Seeker. Even though only 2 have been found there are more, but they are destroyed before they can be found.

Covenant architecture is known for its curved and sophisticated style, likely for the aesthetic tastes of the higher-ranked castes. Constructed of distinctive purple or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The metal they use is unknown to the UNSC but is very strong and resilient.

Military

Main article: Covenant Military

Like other civilizations, the Covenant maintains a permanent armed forces branch, used to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally project the Covenant's power onto others. Formerly led by the Elites prior to the Covenant Civil War, the Loyalist branches are now led by the Brutes. The military comprises of the Covenant Navy, the Covenant Army and the Covenant Special Operations Division, a.k.a SpecOps.

Weaponry

Main article: Covenant Weapons

The Covenant boast a large arsenal of Plasma based weapons. Most of the Covenant's weaponry uses a form of magnetic channeling that humans can only match with the MAC gun aboard starships and the Warthog mounted M68 Gauss Cannon.

The Covenant have a wide arsenal of weaponry to choose from. But, to the benefit of humanity they tend to adopt new weapons from the various races they encounter,and instead of researching it so they could use it to its full potential. This allowed the human race to use Plasma weaponry more effectively.

Plasma-based weaponry is extremely effective against the Covenant's own energy shielding. The amount of shots that can be fired tends to be very high, but power cannot be recharged without a recharge station nearby, and firing many shots in a short duration can cause the weapon to overheat, which reduces energy efficiency as well as forcing a temporary cooling period in which the weapon cannot be fired. Once the Plasma reserves are used up, the weapon is useless. As is evidenced in some of the game files, recharging is possible, although this technology cannot be used by the Master Chief or the Arbiter in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 or Halo 3.

With the introduction of the Brutes as the major military caste within the Covenant, their weaponry has found widespread use. Utilizing crude projectile-like metal spikes in place of plasma, human-based hand held Shotguns, explosive grenade-like launchers, and sharp blades, they are more primitize, yet brutal - fitting, considering the nature of their creators, the Brutes.

There are three known types of dedicated melee weaponry used by the Covenant. The first, and certainly most well known, is the Energy Sword, used solely by the Sangheili. Creating a solid blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to the Sangheili warriors, and its possession is closely monitored. Secondly is the Gravity Hammer, used by Jiralhanae, which seems to be the cultural equivalent to the sword – rather than using a blade of plasma, it can generate a gravitational field, doing devastating damage. The third has not yet been seen in a game, but is used by Unggoy and Kig-Yar – an Energy Cutlass, a crystal similar to those fired by the Needler, used in melee combat, capable of embedding in a target and exploding. The Jiralhanae Brute Shot, while extremely capable in melee combat, is not exclusively used as such.

Vehicles

Covenant Vehicles use advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, as well as utilising Plasma Cannons as offensive weaponry and being constructed out of a high-strength purple metal. Though often faster than their UNSC counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affects its handling. Recently, brute vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Brutes' need for power. All covenant vehicles are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, except for brute choppers.

Template:Covenant Vehicles

Covenant Worlds

51 Pegasi-B System

Reliquary System

K7-49

Salia System

Urs System (with stars Fied and Joori as secondary stars)

Tala System

Oth Sonin System

Prophet Homeworld

Svir System

Napret System

Y'Deio System (HD 69830)

Covenant Starships

Also see the List of Starships article for further information
Covenant Starship Length Comparison
Covenant Assault Carrier 5346 meters
Reverence-class Cruiser 3000 meters
CCS-class Battlecruiser 1782.2 meters
Covenant Destroyer 1500 meters
Covenant Carrier 1455 meters
Covenant Frigate 1000 meters
Covenant Stealth Corvette Less than 485 meters
Seraph-class Starfighter 24.8 meters

Fleets

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High Charity


Space Stations

Carriers

Assault Carrier

File:Shadow of Intent.jpg
The Assault Carrier, Shadow of Intent

Supercarrier

Carrier

  • Lawgiver - unknown status, possibly destroyed

Cruisers

Flagships

Reverence-class Cruisers

CCS-class Battlecruisers

File:CCS-Battlecruiser.jpg
A CCS-class Battlecruiser

Other Types

Destroyers

CPV-class Destroyers

Other Types


Frigates


Support Ships

File:InfinateSuccor.JPG
Infinite Succor


Unknown Type

Template:CovenantShips

Important Covenant Events

Known Legions

Sympathy for the Covenant

Despite the fact that in-game the Covenant are all seemingly unlike Humans in their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the books of the series the Grunts and Elites are revealed to have sympathy and regret for their acts, and are generally almost likable to Humans. In the books the Grunts are portrayed as unwilling under dogs, and only wish to be back on their own planet of Bahalo, and often they are almost comical in their actions. While the Elites are proud warriors fighting for honor and what they believe is righteous and good. These are both traits portrayed by Human soldiers in the book series.

Trivia

  • A Covenant is a relationship with God or an agreement with others.
  • The naming scheme for most Covenant vehicles have to do with paranormal beings or entities, the words Wraith, Ghost, Spectre, Phantom, Banshee, and Spirit are all synonyms.
  • More specifically, the Covenant's government system is a hierarchical theological oligarchy, having a caste system and being ruled by a group of specific individuals.
  • In a biblical reference, with the Ark of the Covenant, it represented the will of God, in connection with the quote: "Your destruction is the will of the Gods... and we are their instrument." The Covenant claim to be the instrument that carries through the gods' will, similar to the Ark of the Covenant.
  • Brute vehicles go against the naming scheme of the other Covenant vehicles, using names that seem to fit their homeworld's ecosystem, like Chopper and Prowler.
  • The Covenant's political system is a homogeny.
  • The Grunts joined the Covenant out of fear from invasion.
  • The Unyielding Hierophant seems to be the only station of its type.
  • They have glassed 76 worlds.
  • The Covenant split during the great Schism.
  • Grunts, Hunters, Jackals, and Drones are the Covenant species who do not become a Combat Form from a infection form of the Flood.
  • The first Covenant species you fight in Halo: Combat Evolved is a threesome of Grunts.
  • In Halo 2 the first Covenant species you encounter is a Grunt or an Elite.
  • In Halo 3 the first Covenant species you encounter are Grunts and a Brute.
  • Halo 2 is the only game in the Halo trilogy with Honor Guards.
  • 343 Guilty Spark often refers to Covenant species as "meddlers" due to their constant disregard for Containment protocols, and misinterpretation of Forerunner technology. Since the Separatists learned the truth of about the Forerunners they are no longer referred to as meddlers.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named best
  2. ^ Halo 2 dialogue, Prophet of Regret
  3. ^ Conversations from the Universe, two Elites
  4. ^ Halo: The Flood page 95
  5. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest
  6. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 241

Related Links

Internal

External

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